Comments

'And finally, not everyone’s being doing topical. In fact, here’s the rather lovely 6 Oxgangs Avenue devoted to the history of the development of the area, this week highlighting how the block of flats came into being. Could have been prompted by Who do you think you are? Or just a timely reminder that not everything worth blogging about is in the here and now.'

Kate Higgins, Scottish Roundup 26/08/2012



Friday 17 August 2012

Pentland Hills and Swanston Village




Caerketton Hill (Dave Henniker)
Swanston Village Cottages with thatched roofs (Undiscovered Scotland)
After wandering through Swanston Village with its thatched roofs, which was a revelation to me, we followed a small burn set amidst a sylvan green pasture. From there we came across the army’s firing range. If there was a red flag flying we needed to make the difficult decision about turning back or somehow reconnoitring. By-passing the T Woods-not really a T, but actually a cross which was disguised from the northerly Edinburgh direction. One of the group said the T stood for the Trotter family who had planted it. From there we then had to climb and scramble up the scree slopes of the northerly side toward the summits of Caerketton and Allermuir. I found this quite scary indeed. I had to keep up with the party so forged on. The climb was worth it, because once at the top we could survey and take in the whole panorama of Edinburgh and where our home, Oxgangs Avenue and The Stair fitted in-it was an early opportunity to take one's bearings-to look at the bigger picture and realise there was a world beyond Oxgangs.On one of these early adventures we had forged deep into the glens beyond the hill tops. For some reason my wee brother, Iain (2.5 years younger than me) and I had to turn back to go home. I didn’t really know my way home. We were both in tears. Eventually we found our way back to the summit. What a happy relief it was to be able to again survey the whole panorama of Edinburgh and to say to Iain that we’re fine and I think I know the way home. From the heights it was all downhill to Oxgangs through Robert Louis Stevenson’s Swanston Village.

2 comments:

Gerry Frew said...

Hi Peter,

Wasn't it a great place to grow up? My mates (mostly Oxgangs Road North and various Colinton Mains streets but a few school mates from Oxgangs proper) used to spend a lot of time on the Pentlands, Craiglockhart Hill, the Braids and Blackford hills - we probably crossed paths :) I particularly remember hiding out on the various golf courses and nicking balls as they came sailing over the crest of a hill, ut of the site of their owners. Even cheekily trying to sell them back to the golfers.

Regards, Gerry

Gerry Frew said...

*out of the sight* doh!